Sleeping-car berth



Jan. 22, 1929.`

C. S. SWEET SLEEPING CAR BERTH Filed March 51, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1929. l

` 1,699,768 C. s. SWEETl SLEPING CAR BERTI Filed March 3l, 923

` 2 Sheets-$heet 2 3.

iii)

CIV

the loss of two lower and two Patented Jan. 22, 1929..

l maaien `r ortica.

GHARIJESS. SWEET, `OIE HUBBARD `WOODS, ILLINOIS.

SLEEPING-CAR BER'IH.

Application alec Maron ai, rieee.

My `invention relates to sleeping cars and is designed to malte the upper berths thereof easily accessible and to provide individual dressing space and additional storage space.

It berth and means of access thereto and dressing space in connection therewith so that the upperberth maybecome as desirable, .if not more so, than a lower berth, by providing a series of stationary and permanent steps and a platform leading to the upper berth so that the occupant may easily ascend or descend, and may be able to dress or undress in privacy from a standing position with sufficient head room and means of enclosing such steps and platform during the daytime in order to eliminate the danger to public life and `limb on accountof falling on such steps and platform, especially when the car is in motion; and at the same time to maintain the present day interior beauty of sleeping cars. It is a well recognized fact that upper berths are not considered by the public as desirable as lower berths because of the difficulties above speci lied vand which my invention is designed to overcome. j

rlhe invention resides in the accomplish ments of the above objects by providing a space between the backs of adjacent seats sufliciently wide to permit a person to pass therebetween. The steps and platform are mounted within said space for easy approach to the upper berth which remains at the present standard height and width. The utilization of my invention will result in approximately upper berths in the present standard twelve section drawing room car, butfit is contemplated that with the increased desirability ofthe upper berth ina car embodying' this invention which will have greater head room and space for hanging clothes than is now available in lower berths, j

an increase over the present charge for upper berths can be made, or a greater use of the upper berth to `more than oifset the loss of berth space. Further objects, advantages and capabilities will become apparent as the spaciticationproceeds.

My invention further resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of j parts illustrated in` the accompanying drawings, and while l` have shown therein a preferred embodiment, l desire it to be understood that the saine is to be considered as illustrative only, and not as limiting my invention, while my claims refer for the most is desired to produce an improved upper .serial no. ceases.

part to a lower and upper berth it is .understood to be applicable also to aroom ma sleeping car, an enclosed section of .lower and upper bertlnor a plurality of these, and with the areaway or compartment adjacent the ends or sides of the berthsas desired.

eferring to the drawings Fig. l is a vertical transverse sectional view of a portion of a sleeping' car with the upper berth in closed position.

Fig. 2,`is a similar' view in open position.

3, shows a sleeping car section in perspective.

. Fig. 4C, shows a modicationof the sustaining means of the upper berth.

ln the drawings, F 3 represents a section of a sleeping car embodying my .invention with the berths made up ready for occupancy. l have interposed a space between the back portions of the seats of some 16 inches in width which in the day time whenthe berths are not in use, is covered by a side panel l and top pani-112. fit night when the berths are made up, the side panel is `removed and placed under the seat orfotherwise disposed of, or it may be hung as adoor on hinges and may `be pushed into the areaway or compartment and out of the way. The top panel 2 is placed in position between one of the-seats and the upper berth 3 as shown in Fig. 3, and thus serves as ay headboard to afford privacy to the lower berth, in this position it may also be used as a means for sustaining the end of the upperberth adjacent the areaway or the compartment when the upper berth is lowered for ccupancy.

VVhen-the car is made up for occupancy at night and the panels l and 2 are` adjusted, the space afforded within the pair of adjacent seats provides an areaway for communicating with the upper berth. A permanent `horizontal step l entends rearwardly from the aisle and at sufficient height to adord easy ascending or descending. Platform 5 is `elevated above said step and provides standing space whilethe occupant of the upper berth is dressing' and the additional step 6 is provided vby mounting a single fiat `support. of metal or wood between the backs ofthe seats or to the side walls of the car. This flange like step affords an easy step for mounting into the upper berth, `but does not interfere with the placing of luggage of considerable length on the platform 5. A movable grab handle .7 is rotatably mounted on the back of `one of the seats and. at night after the upper berth is lowered, is swung into vertical position, where it has locking engagement into a holder' 8 secured to the upper berth 3. When in holding position it not only serves as a grab handle for passengers, but helps to sustain the weight of the upper berth. An additional grab handle 9 is mounted on the opposite side for the convenience of the occupant of the upper berth. The separate partition 14 when in position enables the areaway and berth section to be separated from other berths.

The ordinary upper berth is raised and lowered by means of pulleys 10 and chains 11, and in the present construction of sleeping cars the chains extend from each of the front ends of the upper berth back to pulleys fastened to the side car walls of the car at about the same height from thecar roof as the front side of the upper berth when in closed posij tion.

My invention contemplates either an upper berth with a resistance spring pulley and chain at one end only of the upper berth and opposite the steps so as not to interfere 'with ingress or egress of the occupant, or if it is desired to use a chain and pulley at both ends, said chain in the modified construction may slide along a groove fitted'on the upper edge of the end of the upper berth adjacent the entry way.` When the upper berth has been lowered, the chain 11 may be pushed back to the side wall of the car within the groove and will thus be out of the way of the occupant as he enters the berth. Attached Vto the end of the chain is a roller rod or wheel, (not shown in the drawings) which slides within the slot and is held at the front or aisle side position by elevations 12. To detach the chain from the elevation 12, it is necessary to pull the chain down until it is out of locking engagenient with said elevation or hump and then push it to the bach or the car wall side of the upper berth, where it is held in a similar elevation as shown in Fig. 4. In closing the upper berth, the -force of gravity will disengage the chain from the rear hump and it will travel Vforwardly along the slot 13. From the foregoing description it will be seen that at night when the lower and uppei berths aie made up as beds in a car embodying this invention, the occupant in the upper berth can easily and quickly ascend to the upper berth without danger of falling and without the use of ladders, and when standing on the platform can comfortably dress or undress while standing in upright position. Ample space is also thus afforded for hanging up clothes.

A movable curtain or partition 14, is provided to be used when the berths are made up for sleeping purposes to enclose the front or aisle side of the upper and lower berth and the areaway. The curtains are suspended from a movable rod paralleling the front or movable j have shown and described what I now con- -sider 'a preterred form of my invention, the

specific description of structure set forth above may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims..

Having now described my invention,

1. In a sleeping car a plurality of Sections consisting of a lower berth and an upper berth, a chain at each end of said upper berth to sustain and to facilitate raising and lowering of said upper berth, aresistance spring pulley for coopeiation with said chain, a slotted groove at the top edge of the end of said upper berth and an enlargement at the low-er end of said chain engaging said slotted groove and having sliding engagement therein.

Q. In a sleeping car, a plurality of sections of lower and upper berths endwise adjacent each other, a compartment between said scctions, and permanent steps within said compartment, supporting means for one of said upper berths adjacent said compartment and having movable attachments to said upper berth so that it can be moved to such position when the berth is lowered as to permit the occupant free and unobstructed passage between the compartment and the upper berth.

3. In a sleeping car, a plurality of sections of lower and upper berths endwise adjacent each other, a compartment between said berths and means therein for access to one upper berth only, auxiliary supporting means for said upper berth adjacent said compartment and having a movable attachment to the upper side of said upper berth so that it can be moved to such position when the berth is lowered as to permit the occupant free and unobstructed passage between the compartment and the upper berth.

4. In a sleeping car a plurality of sections of lower and upper berths endwise adjacent each other, an areaway between said sections, means in said areaway for easy access to the end of the upper berth adjacent to said areawa means of supporting said upper berth at the end adjacent said areaway when said upper berth is in lowered position, adjustable means to permit ready access from said areaway to said upper berth of said section, means for segregating said upper and lower berths and areaway from rest of said car with partitions, and means to enable the segregation of said upper berth and said areaway from said lower berth and from the rest of said car.

5. In a sleeping car` a plurality of sections, on each side of the car, an aisle separating each plurality of sections, each section having a lower berth, and upper berth, an areaweaves wayadjaeent one end ofthe lowerberth,per manent steps within saidareaway for access endwisedf said upper berth, al dressing plat* form within said areawayi atsuch n. height to a'ord standing room between it and the car roohand means lfor opening and closing said areaway `when desired.

6. In: a sleeping ear,` a plurality ot 'enclosed sections, each section having a lower berth, an upper berth and an enclosure providing an areaway adjacent one end of the lower berth, means for access to saidenclosed lower and upperberths when desired, permanent steps within said la-reaway tor access endwise :of said upper berth, dressing' platform within said-areaway `at such `height to Jallord standing room between it and the ear roof, and means for opening andlclosing said areaway when desire 7. 1n a `sleeping car, a` plurality ofsections, each section lhavinga lower berth, an upper berth, an areaway adjacent one end of the lowerlberth, i-lxedmeans within said areaway for access endwise of` said upper berth, a dressing 'platform within said area-way at such a height to afford standing'room between it and the, car roohsand partitionssegregatingsaid areaway and said upper berth from therest oisaid` car, and means for closing the'areawaywhen said upper berth is not in use.

8. In a sleepingear having' lower and upperberths, an areaway paralleling and adjacent oneend of the lower bertlnmeans within saidareaway for mounting' to said upper berth, a dressing platformwithin said area wayat such height to ailord standing room between it and the car roof, means for closing the open top and side of said -areaway when said upper berth is not in use and `to partially segregate and enclose said areaway and said Jupper berth lfrom the other berths when said upperberth is in use, grab handles, one of which at least being rotatably mounted at one end and detachably connected at the other, said grab handle supporting front end of upper berth adjacent to said areaway when said berth is in lowered position, and sustaining means to hold said upper berth in lowered position and to facilitate raising and lowering of said upper berth.

9. In a sleeping car havingl lower and upper berths, an areaway para-Heling and adj acent one side of the lower berths, means within said areaway for mounting to said upper berth, a `dressing platform within said areaway at such height to aliord standing room between it and the car roof, a removable end panel and top panel, enclosing said areaway when not in use, said removable side panel and a separate movable partition segregating said areaway and said upper berth, when in use, from the other berths, grab handles to assist in mounting to said upper berth, curtains detachably connected to enclose and segregate the upper and lower bertl s and areaway from those adjacent thereto.`

l0. In asleeping compartment having lower and upper berths, fixed means endwise adjacent the lower berth toi-access `to theupper berth, a sustaining chain t'c-r said upper berth, a resistance spring pulley for cooper- `ation with said chain, one end of said chain beingdetachably connected to a lower rod or wheel, a" slotted groove at the topedge ol the end of said upper berth adjacent to said lined means, tolreceive said roller rod or wheel and permit sliding l engagement therein.

lll. In a sleeping car, having upper and lower bert-hs, an `areaway adjacent one end orone side of the lower berth, means therein for :access to said upper berth, a movable top panel to support the end ot upper berth adjacent to `said areaway when said upper berth is in lowered position and to wholly segregate the lower berth :troni theareaway andupper berth immediately above said top panel, a movable aisle side panel enclosing said areaway when said upper berth is not in use, and partitions segregating said area way and said upper berth from the rest ot the said car.

l2. .ln a sleeping lower berths, an areaway adjacent one end or one side ot' the lower berth, lined means within said areawzi-y for access endwise or sidewise as the ease may be of said upper b rth, a dressing `platl'orni permanently mounted within said areaway at such a. height to atlord standing roonl between it and the car root', a movable top panel 'to support the end ot' upper berth adjacent to said. areaway when said upper berth is in lowered position. and to wholly segragate the lower berth from the areaway and ujiaperberth imniediately above said lowerlberth, a `movable aisle side panel enclosing said areaway when said upper berth `is not in use, and partitions segregating said areaway and said upper berth from the rest ot said car.

13. In a sleeping car, having upper and lower berths, an areaway adjacent one end or one side of the lower berth, means within said areaway for access endwise or sidewise as the case may be of said upper berth, a removable end panel and top panel, enclosing said areaway when not in use, one at least olf said panels to support the end of the upper berth adjacent to said areaway when said upper berth is in lowered position and to wholly segregate the lower berth from the areaway and upper berth immediately above said lower berth; grab handles, one of which at least being rotatably mounted at one end and detachably connected at the other to assist in mounting to said upper berth, partitions segregating said areaway and said upper berth from the rest of said car.

14. ln a sleeping car, having upper and lower berths, an areaway adjacent one end car, having upper and llll or one side of the lower berth, means within said areaway for access endwise or sidewise as the case mayT be ot said upper berth, movable panels for closing the open top and side ot' said areaway when said upper berth is not in use or when said areaway is not in use one atleast ot said panels and a separate movable partition segregating said areaway and said upper berth, when in use, from the i other berths in said car, grab handles to assist in mounting to said upper berth, one ot which atleast being rotatably mounted at one end and detachably connected at the other, said grab handle supporting the front end of the upper berth adjacent to said areaway when said berth is in lowered position, and curtains detaehably connected to enclose and segregating the upper and lower berths and are-away from those adjacent thereto.

15. In a sleeping car,- having upper and lower berths, an areaway adjacent one end or Vone side of the lower berth, means within said areawa-y for access endwise or sidewise as the ease may be of said upper berth, movable panels for closing the open top and side et said areaway when said upper berth is not in use or when said areaway is not in use, one at least of said panels and a separate movable partition segregating said areaway and said upper berth, when in use, from the other berths in said car, grab handles to assist in mountingto said upper berth, one of which at least being rotatably mounted at one end and detachably connected at the other, said grab handle supporting the front end of the upper berth adjacent to said areaway when said berth is in lowered position, a chain at each end of said upper berth to sustain and to facilitate raising and lowering of said upper berth, a resistance spring pulley for (fo-operation with said chains, one end of the chain at the end of the upper berth adjacent `to said areaway being detachably connected to alower rod or wheel, a slotted groove at the top edge ot the end of said upper berth adjacent to said areaway, to receive said roller rod 0r wheel and permit sliding en gagement therein, and curtains detachably connected to enclose and segregate the upper and lower berths and areaway from those adjacent thereto.

16. In a sleeping car having lower and upper berths, an areaway paralleling and adjacent one side ot the lower berths, means within said areaway 'for mounting to said upper berth, a dressing plat-form within said areaway at such height to aiiord standing room between it and the car roof, a movable end panel and movable top panel, enclosing said areaway when not in use, a separate head partition, one or more of said panels and said partition segregating said areaway and said upper berth, when in use, from the other berths, grab handles to assist in mounting to said upper berths, curtains detachably connected to enclose and segregate the upper and lower berths and areaway from those adjacent thereto.

17. In a sleeping car, a plurality of sections, each section having a lower' berth and an upper berth, an areaway adjacent and beyond said upper and lower berths, separating said section from other sections, and means of access from the areaway of each section to said upper berth of that section only, a sustaining chain for said upper berth and means for disengaging said chain from sustaining position to permit access to said upper berth when said upper berth is in lowered position;

In witness whereof, l hereunto my naine to this specification.

CHARLES S. SWEET.

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